Blue-printing apparatus.



R. HERMAN- BLUE PRINTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8, 1913.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEBT 1.

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R. HERMAN.

BLUE PRINTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8, 1913.r

/NVENTOR Attorney 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REINI-IOLD HERMAN, OF GRAFTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

BLUE-PRINTING- APPARATUS.

b all whom it may concern Be it known that I, REIKI-rotin HERMAN, a citizen of the United States of America, and residing at Grafton, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Blue-Printing Apparatus, of which the following` is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in blue printing apparatus, and has particular relation to the mechanism for supporting the curtain for the printing frame.

The present invention pertains to the type of mechanism disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States granted to me November S, 1910, No. 974,965, the mechanism herein disclosed being an improvement on that shown in the said Letters Patent.

Among the objects of the present invention are to provide mechanism in which the tension of the curtain roller is increased in direct proportion to the length of travel of the roller, while at the same time providing a relatively easy movement to the support for the curtain; to provide a mechanism by means of which the roller may be shifted to take up or compensate for inequalities in curtain texture or in the transparent surface; to provide a mechanism in which the tension automatically changes under movement of the roller carrier, in such'manner as to cause it to act as an aid in overcoming the resist-ance provided during the unwinding movement of the carrier.

Other and further objects of the invention are to provide a construction which is simple and e'liicient in operation, durable in construction, which can be readily applied, and which can be manufactured at a rela` tively low cost. s

To these and other ends, the nature of which will readily be understood, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more specifically described and then particularly claimed, and in describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying' drawings illustrating a practical embodiment of the invention, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the printing cylinder of a blue-printing apparatus showing my improved invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail v iew of 'the upper and of the curved carrier in po- Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 8, 1913.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

serial No. 766,374.

sition on the printing cylinder. Fig. A is a sectional view taken on the line 41--1 of Fig. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line of Fig. 4. Fig. 6. is a diagramn atie view showing the manner in which cant-ing of the carrier is obtained. Fig. T is diagrammatic view illustrating the difference between the travel of the rollerI and of the sheaves to provide the variations in tension, and, Fig. S is a view corresponding to Fig. 4- and showing a simpli tied arrangement of parts.

The printing frame consists preferably of two semi-cylindrical transparent glass sections 10, of proper length, and the end rings 11, the latter in the present instance, being approximately L1 -shaped in cross sect-ion, the connection portion'lying approximately in a horizontal plane, the remaining portions of the ring extending in vertical planes concentric with each other, the portion of larger diameter receiving the glass sections, the latter being secured therein in any preferred manner and preferably as shown in the patent heretofore referred to, the particular manner of mounting the sections 10 forming no material part of the present invention. As will be readily understood, the rings oppose each other on the opposite edges of the sections.

As shown in the prior patent granted t0 me August 2nd, 1910, No. 966,016, for blueprinting' apparatus, the arrangements are such that the cylinder which forms the printing frame is provided at substantially opposite sides with longitudinally extending strips, which form what may be termed blind portions, these strips being located between the opposing longitudinal edges of the glass sections; as shown in the said patent the supports for the frame are located adjacent said blind portions.

In the present construction, the angle iron 12, which forms the support carries a strip 13 having a bead 14C adapted to enter a groove formed on the outer face of the blind strip 15 which forms a cushioning member for the glass sections.

As shown in said Letters Patent No. 974,965, I preferably employ an independent curtain for each section, these curtains having one end secured in position between the cushioning strip 15 and a strip 16 secured to the strip 15 in suitable manner, the end of the curtain thereby extending substantially from the edge of the glass. As

shown in Fig. 2, the carriers for the curtain move in the same direction during similar operations, and consequently the ends of the curtains are secured on opposite sides of the frame.

ln the drawings, l have shown two forms for supporting the curtain, Fig. 8 illustrating a simple form, the remaining figures illustrating preferred form, certain additions being provided which are effective to increase the rapidity of operation over the vdisclosure of Fig. 8. As Fig. 8 differs from the remaining figures mainly in the omission of certain parts, I will iirst describe the preferred form.

Q0 designates the curtain carrier, being formed of substantially duplicate members adapted to travel on the upper and lower rings l1; these members are designated as 21, and 21 respectively, and being substantially duplicates, a description of one of them will be sufficient. The member 21 comprises a frame having its outer portion slotted, as at 22, with the walls of the slot preferably V-shaped to form a guide for a journal-block 2, said guide having its direction of length substantially corresponding to a radius of the printing cylinder. The inner portion of the frame 2l is provided with a post 24 having a transverse opening through which extends a threaded member 25, the forward end of which is adapted to receive one end of a spring 26, the opposite end of which spring is connected to the block A nut 27 on the threaded member 95 acts to adjust the position of the member 25.

Mounted in bearings carried by oppositely projecting wings 28 on the member 21 are rolls 29, having their axes extending in directions radial of the printing' frame, these rolls 29 being preferably spaced apart and adapted to travel on the outer edge of the portion of the ring ll of smaller diameter; these rolls are preferably formed with a V-shaped groove, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4l. The members 2l and 21L are connected together' at their inner and outer ends by members 30 and 31 respectively, said end frames and connecting' members substantially forming a frame adapted to travel on the end rings, the connections 30 and 8l permitting of proper adjustment to retain the members 21 and 2lEL substantially parallel. The member 31 is adapted to act as a handle for moving tne frame about the cylinder.

32 designates a shaft extending through the journals 23. said shaft being provided with sheaves 33 adjacent the members 2l and 21a, said sheaves being secured to the shaft in suitable manner to rotate therewith, and being positioned to lie within the space outside the horizontal portion of the end rings, the periphery of the sheaves being spaced from the outer face 1la of the outer portion of the rings. Loosely-mounted on the shaft 32 between the sheaves 83 is a roller structure 341-, through which the shaft passes, said shaft and roller being connected by a coil spring 35, the connection being made in suitable manner. ln order to provide for proper wear, l preferably provide the ends of the roller with bearing plates 36. As will be seen by Fig. el, and. this forms a particular feature of the present invention, the diameter of the roller 3-1- is less than that of the sheaves 33, the amount of the difference in diameter being controlled somewhat by the size of the curtain and the amount of tension desired.

The curtain, indicated at 37 is connected to the roller .Bil in any desired manner. Mounted in suitable brackets carried by the rings adjacent the blind portions of the cylinder are guide rolls 39, over which extends a cable d0, thex Opposite ends of which are connected to the sheaves 33, the direction of winding of the cable on vthe sheaves being opposite that of the curtain. its will be readily understood, the tension of the spring 2G will tend to draw the journal. Q3 toward the post Q4, thus drawing the shaft. 252 toward the surface of the glass section 'with which it contacts, the adjusting means enabling the pressure to be adjustably-coutrolled, and insuring a close contact the curtain on the roller with the Iglass surface or the material being` operated with and upon, this contact being had directly under the roller. frs heretofore pointed out, the sheaves 33 and roller Bit are of different diameters, the sheaves beingl secin'ed to the shaft 32 and the roll r 3d.- loosel'v mounted thereon, the shaft and the roller being connected by the coil spring` 35. i

In the structure disclosed in Fig. S, l have omitted the entire external supporting means for the shaft providing the upper she-ave with an annular flange 3311 which is adapted to rest upon the connecting web of theupper end ring, ."aid flange being positioned on the sheave at such point as to insure its location over said web regardless of variations in diameter of the curtain roll as the curtain is wound and unwouud. This flange provides a minin'nun surface contact with said web and acts to prevent the traveling structure from sagging. frs will be obvious, the construction of Fig. S will operate efficiently where, the printing section is curved, as for instance, in Fig. 2, the cables acting to hold the curtain in proper contact. rlhis arrangement is, bviousl' v, less expensive than the preferred form, the advz'lntage of the latter being that its structure is such as to enable the operation to be performed with greater rapidity and thus increase the capacity of the apparatus. Irs will be obvious in eitherl form, there is provided what may be termed a curtain carrier` this latter in the form sho .vn in Fig. 8 being considered as the cables and the sheaves, these being supported at the ends of the transparent section and acting to carry or support the curtain structure during its travel. In the preferred form, this may additionally include the parts omitted from Fig. 8 or may be considered as the omitted parts themselves. It is to be understood therefore, that the term curtain carrier is intended to apply to both forms. These several arrangements, together with the cable connection 40, provides a differential arrangement which acts to vary the tension of the spring 35 in the following manner: As will be obvious, the entire carrier travels a distance corresponding with the take-up or let-off of the curtain to and from the roller. For instance, assuming the circumference of the roller to be nine inches, one turn thereof will unwind nine inches in length of the curtain during which period, the carrier will move a corresponding distance of nine inches; as the cable is fixed at its ends to the sheaves, and there is a fixed point (the rolls 39) from which the cable ends extend toward the sheaves, it will be understood that the unwinding of the curtain a distance of nine inches with the corresponding travel of the carrier -causes the latter to approach the rolls 39 an equal distance, viz., nine inches, which distance in the length of the cable is taken up at each end by the sheaves. Assuming the sheaves to be of a circumferential lengt-h of twelve inches, it will be readily understood that while the curtain has been unwound one complete turn, the sheaves 33 have made but a partial turn (three-fourths of the distance). Consequently, there has been provided a differential movement between the roller and the shaft in a direction .which will increase the tension of the spring, and this increase in tension will continue throughout the unwinding movement of the roller. However, this tension is exerted both on the rolle-r and on the shaft, so that while there is an increase of tension, the addition provided by the unwinding motion of the roller is exerted through the spring in a direction to tend to wind the cable, so that the actual pressure required in moving the carrier is simply that required to overcome the increase of pressure over a balanced construction such as would be provided if the roller and sheave were of equal diameter. Obviously, the opposite movement of the carrier gradually decreases the tension until the balanced condition is obtained at the time the curtain is completely wound. And this balanced condition ensues wherever the curtain carrier may be brought to rest, the tension of the spring, however, being increased or decreased according to the direction in which the carrier has traveled. As a consequence, it will be readily understood that .while the curtain carrier will be held stationary at any point at which it may be placed, there will be no tendency to cause the carrier to move toward the unwound position although the tension is increased, it being necessary to move the carrier positively to provide the winding or unwinding operation.

As will be seen, the cable 40 acts substantially as the support for the opposite ends of the carrier to control the direction of length of the shaft 32, aided by the rolls Q9. Since that portion of the cable between the sheaves is endless and free to travel over the rollers 39, it will be understood that the shaft may cant to an extent suilicient to permit for compensating for unequal. stretching of the curtain or inequalities in the surface of the glass sections without disturbing the spring tension or placing any strains on the shaft or roller. This canting action. within reasonable limits is permitted by the rolls Q9 which, owing to the V-shape groove will permit them to slightly change positions; furthermore, the presence of spaced apart rolls at each end will permit one roll to move away from its riding surface without affecting any disengagement of the parts. By reason of this ability to cant, the curtain will be held in close contact with the glass surface throughout the entire unwound port-ion of the curtain. As will be obvious, the sheaves which are employed in connection with any machine will have a diameter to produce the desired or necessary variation of tension for that machine. For instance, an increase in the size of the machine with a corresponding increase in the size of the. curtain preferably employs a sheave of larger diameter than where the machine has the surface of less area, for the reason that the pressure of the curtain in the larger size will require a greater tension in order to produce the proper contact. However, the particular difference in diameter is a inatter of construction to meet conditions and does not affect the invention so long as the differences are such as to increase the tension of the spring as the curtain is unwound. If desired, suitable provision may be made for retaining the curtain in unwound condition when it has extended entirely over the exposed surface of the glass sections, as by notching the ring in the manner shown in my said Letters Patent #$974,965.

By permitting adjustment in the tension of the spring 26, the operator is able to cause the roller to act with greater or less pressure on the print; this is of par Aicular advantage in connect-ion with tracings or other material which have been creased or broken, the roller acting somewhat in the nature of a squeegee in flattening the creased material.

The preferrecL manner of use of this oevice is in connection with a glass section curved in the direction of travel of the roller carrier. However, the amount of curvature is unimportant, since the device Will act in connection -with a substantially flat surface, and it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in this respect.

1While I have shoivn the rolls Q9 of a pai'- ticular coniiguration and adapted to travel on the edge of the ring, I may employ the structure of the said Letters Patent #974,965 in this respect, the equivalent ot rolls 2S) riding on the tace 11a, the members 2l and 2l being provided with interiors adapted to travel on the sheaves.

lllhile have herein shown and described one or more Ways in ivhich my invention may be carried out, it will be readily understood that variations and modifications therein may be required or desired to meet the exigencies ot use, and therefore reserve the right to make such changes and modifications as may be so required or desii'ed in so tar as the same may fall Within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention, what claim as nen7 is:-

l. In printing apparatus, a printing' trame having; a transparent section, said trame having` end members formed L,- shaped in cross-section to form an overhang for the edge ot the transparent section and a portion projecting beyond the overhang, and a curtain carrier supported on said proiectiimv portions, the latter forming Ways to control the travel path oit the carrier.

Q. ln printing` apparatus, a printing trame having a transparent section, a curtain carrier supported at the ends oi said section and adapted to position the curtain relat' to sait section, the ends ot said carrier shittabl-e relative to each other to permit canting of the curtain roller.

in printing' apparatus, a printing iframe having' a transparent section, a curtain carrier supported at the ends of said section and adapted to position the curtain relative to said section, and a cable supported on Athe trame and having' its ends mounted on the carrier to travel therewith, the intermediate portion ot the cable being endless and movable in the direction of length of the cable to permit canting ot the Curtain roller.

lle. in printing apparatus, a printing trame having a transparent section, a curtain carrier supported at the ends of said section and adapted to position the curtain relative to said section, and a cable adapted to support the ends of the carrier, said cable being movable in its direction of length to permit cantine' ot the curtain roller.

tn printing apparatus, a printing trame having a transparent section, a curtain carrier supported at the ends of said section and adapted to position the curtain relative to said section, a spring roller' :for the curtain mounted in said carrier, and means tor varying the tension of the roller spring` by movements of the carrier, the ten.- sion of the spring' being' ineffective to move the carrier when the latter is in. a position oi rest.

G. In printing apparatus, a printing trame having a transparent section, ay curtain carrier supported at the ends oit said section and adapted to position the curtain relative to said section, a spring roller mounted in said carrier and forming' a suppoi't for the curtain, said roller having a shaft, and means for providing a diiierential movement ot the shaft and roller by the curtain-positioning movements or" the carrier to vary the tension of the spring.

7. in printing` apparatus, a printing frame having transparent section, a curtain carrier supported at the ends oit said section and adapted to position the curtain relative to said section, a spring' roller mounted in said carrier and forming a support for the curtain, said roller having a shaft, and means for providing a difierential movement ot the shaft and roller' by the curtain-positioning movements oli' the carrier to vary the tension ot' the spring, said means including members carried by the shaft and having' a diameter dillering from the diameter oit the roller, means being` provided for causing the eirtajuntercncc ot the roller and said members to travel an equal distance in the cari'ier movements.

8. In printingapparatus, a printing trame having a transparent section, a curtain carrier supported at the ends of said section and adapted to position the curtain relative to said section, a spring roller mounted in said carrier and forming a support for the curtain, said roller having` a shaft, and means tor providing a ditlerential movement of the shaft` and roller by the curtain-positioning movements ot the carrier to vary the tension ot the spring, said means including members carried by the shaft and having a diameter (littering trom the diameter of the roller, and a cable connecting said members to cause the latter to have a circumferential travel equal in length to that of the roller during' curtainpositioning movements of the carrier.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of tivo Witnesses.

RENHOLD HERMAN.

lVitnesses:

fr. M. lVlLsoN, MILTON E. Louer.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents, Washington, D. C. 

